Prince Harry’s nude antics in Las Vegas were example of an “odd moment” all
officers regret, but the Prince breached the “11th commandment” by getting
caught, the former head of the British Army has said.

Former Chief of General Staff Sir General Mike Jackson said many young soldiers have an "odd moment" of which they are not proud.

Prince Harry's crime was that he breached the "11th commandment" of getting caught, he added.

Sir Mike said: "All young officers are probably saying 'there but for the grace of God go I' and even some older officers are remembering perhaps the odd moment in their youth when they were being not as wise perhaps as they might have been.

"No. I have no difficulty with it. One does remember the 11th commandment : thou shalt not get caught."

Sir Mike, whose service in Kosovo saw him diffusing a tense stand-off with Russia, also backed the decision to send Prince Harry back to war.

There were fears Harry's presence might pose a security risk to other soldiers, particularly after a recent assault on Camp Bastion in which the Taliban claimed it was targeting for the prince.

Sir Mike said: "He's a young officer in the Army and he must do his duty along with all other soldiers. There is no question in my mind about that.

"Let's be clear. It's what he wants as any young officer with red blood in his veins is going to want: to go on operations."

Sir Mike also revealed he does not believe the Taliban will overrun Afghanistan when coalition troops are pulled out.

He said: "I don't think they will and the definition of success, or if you want to call it winning, is not an easy one.

"It's more complex than that. What's been going on over the last decade or so is a concerted international attempt to give Afghanistan as a country the ability to stand on its own feet."

Sir Mike, who studied for a defence fellowship at Wolfson College Cambridge in 1989, joined the army at the age of 19.

He was appointed Chief of General Staff, the most senior officer in the British Army, in February 2003, a month before the invasion of Iraq.

He was reportedly nicknamed Darth Vader by his men because he instantly commanded respect among his troops. He became known for speaking his mind and dismissed suggestions British troops were unequipped for the invasion.

His comments came before a dinner at the University Arms Hotel in Cambridge to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Cambridge Rotary Club.

Last month pictures emerged of Prince Harry at a party in a Las Vegas hotel standing in front of a woman, wearing only a gold ring tied around his neck.

In another image the 27-year-old Prince appears to be shown "bear-hugging" a woman next to a pool table.